Downstate Residents Redesign Journal Club—and Boost Pediatric/ NICU Training

By Office of the President | Jan 20, 2026

A recent project of Downstate’s Department of Pediatrics demonstrates how resident-led learning can enhance clinical training and foster confidence in emerging science. A team of residents launched a virtual subspecialty journal club in neonatology and infant health, flipping the usual model: residents chose the papers, led the discussions, and shaped how their peers approached the research. Faculty offered support, but the leadership came from the trainees themselves.  

Over 18 months, residents met every two weeks to review new studies, compare findings, and discuss the implications of the evidence for patient care. They examined methods, questioned assumptions, and practiced translating research into clinical decisions. Residents said the journal club helped them keep pace with emerging science and sharpen the knowledge they rely on in daily practice. 

The project also reflects Downstate’s broader approach to graduate medical education. As Brooklyn’s only safety-net health sciences university, Downstate prepares physicians who will care for communities with complex needs and unequal access to specialty services. Resident-led initiatives like this help build independence, reinforce analytical skills, and support high-quality, community-focused care.  

The study was led by former Pediatrics residents Melek Demirhan, M.D., and Sheetal Sriraman, M.D.,in collaboration with Sergio G. Golombek, M.D., MPH, FAAP, Director of the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program and Interim NICU Medical Director.